Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Photos
Step back in time and into a masterpiece! Kameido Tenjin immortalized in Hiroshige Ando’s ukiyo-e “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” is a hidden gem. It blends history, art, and nature. Cascading wisteria, drum bridges, and magnificent views are all in the same frame. A kaleidoscope of beauty and culture awaits you. Are you ready to discover the shrine that inspired a legend? Let’s dive in!
At first glance, Kameido Tenjin is a typical Shinto shrine with a giant torii at the main entrance. That’s where the similarities end. Inside is different. This place is about flowers. Each season has its own. Tokyo Skytree overlooks it all! This place has some unique aspects.
Once past the torii, a path will take you to the shrine. It passes over some pools. Two of Hiroshige’s big red drum bridges get you over them. Those are surrounded by trellises from which the wisteria hangs. This is the scene in Ando’s famous painting! It’s easily recognizable.
Those bridges make fantastic viewing platforms. You’ll be able to look down on everything at Kameido Tenjin! You can get a great view of the flowers and the shrine. And in the distance, is Tokyo Skytree.
One thing about the bridges. They aren’t the original wood ones. The air raids of World War Two destroyed those. These are concrete. Be careful using them during festivals. Many people gather on them, and the steps are rather steep. Accidents might happen up there one day.
Kameido Tenjin is the best place to see wisteria in the metropolitan area. When they bloom, it is a beautiful scene. I understand why Ando decided to paint it.
The shrine isn’t only about wisteria. Three hundred plum blossoms are there, too. And yes, like other shrines in Tokyo, there are smaller halls, statues, and monuments on the grounds. Plus, there are turtles and carp to see in the ponds, with the occasional pelican dropping by!
If you like ema, wooden tablets you write your dreams on, Kameido Tenjin has something special. The ones on sale have a special wisteria theme! They look lovely with the purple flowers.
A Brief History of Kameido Tenjin
The shrine was named after Sugawara no Michizane. Michizane was a 9th-century scholar, poet, and politician. He was also an official in the Emperor’s court. While he was influential, he suffered from an up-and-down career. It ended with him being exiled and dying in the provinces.
After his death, there was a plague and a drought. The sons of the Emperor also died, and lightning hit the palace. That was followed by weeks of rainstorms and floods. Yes, you guessed it, it was all attributed to Michizane’s angry spirit. Poor guy.
The Imperial court decided to build some shrines to appease him. One was Kameido Tenjin (another was Yushima Tenjin). The court even restored his titles and office. It also deleted his time in exile from the records.
In later years, the court deified him as Tenjin-Sama (the god/kami of scholarship), hence the shrine’s name. So, in one sense, it worked out well for Michizane. He got respect at last.
What to photograph at the shrine?
- Shrine architecture
- Chrysanthemums
- Carp, turtle, and birds
- Plum blossoms
- Wisteria
- Tokyo Skytree
Photography tips
- No tripods allowed.
- During festivals, it is very crowded.
- Be careful on the drum bridges as the stairs are steep.
Photo spots near Kameido Tenjin
Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot in the immediate area. Once you finish, you’ll need to go back to the station. Or you could walk to:
- Tokyo Skytree
- Jikken Bridge (for photos of Tokyo Skytree)
- Sarue-Onishi Park
Kameido Tenjin Flower Festivals
Wisteria
The wisteria are from the Edo period. They are now a major tourist attraction and draw visitors from mid-April to early May. For the festival, the grounds light up after sundown till 10 pm. It is worth checking out. Click here to see photos from the 2022 event. Make sure to take your camera. But be prepared to struggle through the crowds.
Chrysanthemums
This flower festival is lesser-known. Held in November, it occupies a small part of the grounds. The chrysanthemums are high-quality, but there aren’t as many as other Tokyo locations. Click here to see the 2021 event photos.
Shrine Maidens (Miko)
Shrine maidens perform at Kameido Tenjin during the Wisteria Festival. I photographed them at the 2024 event.
Where is Kameido Tenjin?
Address: 3-6-1 Kameido, Koto City, Tokyo
Here is a Google map:
Closest train/subway stations:
Kameido:
- Chuo-Sobu Line
Kinshicho:
- Chuo-Sobu Line
- Sobu Line (Rapid)
- Hanzomon Metro Line
Oshiage:
- Keisei Oshiage Line
- Tobu Skytree Line – connects to the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line
- Toei Asakusa Line
- Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line
Opening hours
6 AM to 5 PM
Conclusion
Kameido Tenjin is one of Tokyo’s most famous shrines. We can thank Hiroshige’s “One Hundred Famous Views of Tokyo” for that. The painting gave it a huge boost.
These days, Kameido Tenjin is one of the city’s best-known shrines for flower festivals. In my opinion, the plum blossoms and chrysanthemums are a minor attraction there. But, it is safe to say that most people will go there for the wisteria. It is popular.
So, the flowers have made it a great Tokyo photo spot. Just remember, you can’t use tripods. And be careful with your camera around the pools!
During the festival, you’ll find stalls offering lots of food. There will be okonomiyaki, yakisoba, yakitori, and taiyaki, to name a few. Those things can make great subjects for photos, too. Kameido Tenjin is a lot of fun.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
Here are more temple articles:
External related websites:
- Kameido Tenjin (official website)